Wrestling Legend Passes

The landscape of professional wrestling would be very different today if it wasn't for the megastar that was Hulk Hogan. he changed the way the mainstream viewed the industry of pro wrestling. He became that first big mega star that the industry needed when they began becoming more of a public view. A lot of what the wrestling industry has become today can be traced back to Hulk Hogan and Hulkamania running wild in the mid to late 80s. The world lost the superstar earlier this week, passing away at his home in Florida at the age of 71.

When the name Hulk Hogan gets brought up in conversation, it gets looked at from two different viewpoints. The character, and the man behind the character.

The man behind the gimmick, Terry Bollea, was very different than what we saw on TV and in the media. That aspect of the person, we won't dive into here. There's been plenty talked about the person that I really don't fell like getting into here. No what will be talked about here and now was the character of Hulk Hogan.

What the Hulkster did with Hulk-a-Mania runnimg wild in the late 80s and beyond changed the world of professional wrestling and brought it full force into the mainstream. It helped usher in a new era and viewpoint on the wrestling world. It almost cannot be measured.

Sure, there were people in the wrestling industry who had a leg up of sorts on Hulk. Guys like Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat could out wrestle, out talk, and have maybe a little more showmanship than Hogan. But Hulk had the right mix of all of it and he came in at the right time. He was the driving force behind Wrestlemania. he helped power the Monday Night Wars when he was in WCW. When Hulk was really at the top of his game at the turn of the decade going from the 80s to the 90s, it was a huge time for the wrestling industry and Hulk was the right guy for it at the right place at the right time.

Not only did he make wrestling seem like kind of a cool thing to do at that time, he laid the groundwork for not only wrestling as it is today, but for what wrestlers could be able to do outside of wrestling. You look at what guys like the Rock, Batista, and John Cena have been able to do transitioning from wrestling to a big deal in Hollywood. Hulk was the first one to do that. He became the first wrestler of note to really be doing movies, TV shows and even TV commercials. Other stars of the industry soon followed that path. If it wasn't for Hulk taking that first step, we wouldn't have a lot of what we have in the industry now in 2025.

So thank you Hulk Hogan for everything you did for the wrestling industry. HULKAMANIA WILL LIVE FOREVER!

Drop That Puck

Its getting close. Start marking your calendars folks. The 2025-26 NHL Schedule is here! October through April, an 82 game stretch to see who will have a shot to play for hockey's ultimate prize.

Don't worry, we'll have the full schedules listed for the teams we cover here, but we will get to that in a moment. First, lets take a look at some of the other games of note for the 2025-26 NHL season!

October 7th Blackhawks @ Panthers 5PM: First game of the year and Panthers raise their Cup Banner
October 21st Panthers @ Bruins: Brad Marchand first game back in Boston
November 14th and 16th Penguins vs Predators: Global Series Games in Sweden
November 22nd Oilers @ Panthers: Finals rematch
January 19th Jets @ Blackhawks: Jonathan Towes returns to Chicago
January 23rd Golden Knights @ Maple Leafs: Mitch Marner returns to Toronto

That's just some of the great action we can expect to see this season. Now lets get right into it. Here's the full 82 game schedules for the teams we cover here: the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders and New York Rangers

OCTOBER:
Oct 9 vs Ottawa 7:00 PM
Oct 11 vs New Jersey 7:00 PM
Oct 13 @ Boston 1:00 PM
Oct 14 @ Washington 7:00 PM
Oct 17 @ Detroit 7:00 pm
Oct 18 @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Oct 23 vs Chicago 7:00 PM
Oct 25 vs Anaheim 5:00 PM
/Oct 26 vs Vegas 5:00 PM
Oct 28 @ Nashville 7:45 PM
Oct 30 vs Dallas 7:00 PM

NOVEMBER:
Nov 2 @ Utah 3:30 PM
Nov 4 @ Colorado 9:30 PM
Nov 6 @ Vegas 10:00 PM
Nov 8 vs Washington 7:00 PM
Nov 12 vs Rangers 7:00 PM
Nov 15 @ Florida 6:00 PM
Nov 16 vs Vancouver 5:00 PM
Nov 18 vs New Jersey 7:00 PM
Nov 20 vs Edmonton 7:00 PM
Nov 22 @ Washington 7:00 PM
Nov 24 vs Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Nov 26 vs Calgary 7:00 PM
Nov 28 @ Detroit 1:00 PM
Nov 29 @ Rangers 2:00 PM

DECEMBER:
Dec 2 @ Islanders 7:00 PM
Dec 4 vs Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Dec 6 vs Islanders 7:00 PM
Dec 8 @ Toronto  7:30 PM
Dec 9 @ Montreal 7:00 PM 
Dec 11 @ New Jersey 7:00 PM
Dec 13 @ Islanders 3:30 PM
Dec 15 vs Florida 7:00 PM
Dec 18 vs Los Angeles 7:00 PM
Dec 20 vs Carolina 7:00 PM
Dec 22 vs St. Louis 7:00 PM
Dec 27 @ Florida 7:00 PM
Dec 28 vs Montreal 5:00 PM
Dec 31 @ Anaheim 4:00 PM

JANUARY:
Jan 1 @ Los Angeles 10:30 PM
Jan 3 @ San Jose 4:00 PM
Jan 6 vs Colorado 7:00 PM
Jan 10 @ Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Jan 12 @ Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Jan 13 @ Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Jan 16 @ St. Louis 8:00 PM
Jan 18 @ Dallas 2:00 PM
Jan 20 vs San Jose 7:00 PM
Jan 23 @ Chicago 7:00 PM
Jan 24 @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Jan 26 vs Utah 7:00PM
Jan 29 vs Winnipeg 7:00 PM

FEBRUARY:
Feb 1 vs Boston* TBD (Stadium Series)
Feb 3 vs Buffalo 7:00 PM
Feb 5 vs Florida 7:00 PM
Feb 25 vs Toronto 7:30 PM
Feb 26 @ Carolina 7:00 PM
Feb 28 vs Buffalo 7:00 PM

MARCH:
Mar 3 @ Minnesota 9:30 PM
Mar 5 @ Winnipeg 8:00 PM
Mar 7 @ Toronto 7:00 PM
Mar 8 @ Buffalo 6:00 PM
Mar 10 vs Columbus 7:00 PM
Mar 12 vs Detroit 7:00 PM
Mar 14 vs Carolina 7:00 PM
Mar 17 @ Seattle 10:00 PM
Mar 19 @ Vancouver 10:00 PM
Mar 21 @ Edmonton 10:00 PM
Mar 22 @ Calgary 8:00PM
Mar 24 vs Minnesota 7:30 PM
Mar 26 vs Seattle 7:00 PM
Mar 28 vs Ottawa 1:00 PM
Mar 29 vs Nashville 5:00 PM 
Mar 31 vs Montreal 7:00 PM

APRIL:
Apr 2 vs Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Apr 4 vs Boston 5:00 PM 
Apr 6 @ Buffalo 7:00 PM
Apr 7 @ Ottawa 7:00 PM
Apr 9 @ Montreal 7:00 PM
Apr 11 @ Boston 12:30 PM
Apr 13 vs Detroit 7:00 PM
Apr 15 vs Rangers 7:00 PM

OCTOBER:
Oct 7 vs Pittsburgh 8:00 PM
Oct 9 @ Buffalo 7:00 PM
Oct 11 @ Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Oct 12 vs Washington 7:00 PM
Oct 14 vs Edmonton 7:00 PM
Oct 16 @ Toronto 7:00 PM
Oct 18 @ Montreal 7:00 PM
Oct 20 vs Minnesota 7:00 PM
Oct 23 vs San Jose 7:00 PM
Oct 26 @ Calgary 8:00 PM
Oct 28 @ Vancouver 10:00 PM
Oct 30 @ Edmonton 9:00 PM

NOVEMBER:
Nov 1 @ Seattle 10:00 PM
Nov 4 vs Carolina 7:00 PM
Nov 7 @ Detroit 7:00 PM
Nov 8 vs Islanders 7:00 PM
Nov 10 vs Nashville 7:00 PM
Nov 12 @ Tampa Bay 7:00 PM
Nov 15 @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Nov 16 vs Detroit 7:00 PM
Nov 18 @ Vegas 10:00 PM
Nov 20 @ Colorado 9:00 PM
Nov 22 @ Utah 9:00 PM
Nov 24 vs St. Louis 7:00 PM
Nov 26 @ Carolina 7:00 PM
Nov 28 @ Boston 1:00 PM
Nov 29 vs Tampa Bay 2:00 PM

DECEMBER:
Dec 2 vs Dallas 7:00 PM
Dec 4 @ Ottawa 7:00 PM
Dec 6 vs Colorado 12:30 PM
Dec 7 vs Vegas 7:00 PM
Dec 10 @ Chicago 7:30 PM
Dec 13 vs Montreal 7:00 PM
Dec 15 vs Anaheim 7:00 PM
Dec 16 vs Vancouver 7:00 PM
Dec 18 @ St. Louis 8:00 PM
Dec 20 vs Philadelphia 12:30 PM
Dec 21 @ Nashville 7:00 PM
Dec 23 @ Washington 6:30 PM
Dec 27 @ Islanders 6:00 PM
Dec 29 @ Carolina 7:00 PM
Dec 31 @ Washington 12:30 PM

JANUARY:
Jan 2 vs Florida 8:00 PM (Winger Classic)
Jan 5 vs Utah 7:00 PM
Jan 8 vs Buffalo 7:00 PM
Jan 10 @ Boston 1:00 PM
Jan 12 vs Seattle 7:00 PM
Jan 14 vs Ottawa 7:30 PM
Jan 17 @ Philadelphia 1:00 PM
Jan 19 @ Anaheim 10:00 PM
Jan 20 @ Los Angeles 10:30 PM
Jan 23 @ San Jose 10:00 PM
Jan 26 vs Boston 7:00 PM
Jan 28 @ Islanders 7:30 PM
Jan 29 vs Islanders 7:00 PM
Jan 31 @ Pittsburgh 3:30 PM

FEBRUARY:
Feb 5 vs Carolina 7:00 PM
Feb 26 vs Philadelphia 8:00 PM
Feb 28 vs Pittsburgh 12:30 PM

MARCH:
Mar 2 vs Columbus 7:00 PM
Mar 5 vs Toronto 7:00 PM
Mar 7 @ New Jersey 3:00 PM
Mar 9 @ Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Mar 10 vs Calgary 7:00 PM
Mar 12 @ Winnipeg 8:00 PM
Mar 14 @ Minnesota 6:00 PM
Mar 16 vs Los Angeles 7:00 PM
Mar 18 vs New Jersey 7:00 PM
Mar 19 @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Mar 22 vs Winnipeg 12:00 PM
Mar 23 vs Ottawa 7:30 PM
Mar 25 @ Toronto 7:30 PM
Mar 27 vs Chicago 7:00 PM
Mar 29 vs Florida 1:00 PM
Mar 31 vs New Jersey 7:00 PM

APRIL:
Apr 2 vs Montreal 7:00 PM
Apr 4 vs Detroit 12:30 PM
Apr 5 vs Washington 7:00 PM
Apr 8 vs Buffalo 7:00 PM
Apr 11 @ Dallas 5:00 PM
Apr 13 @ Florida 7:00 PM
Apr 15 @ Tampa Bay 7:00 PM

OCTOBER:
Oct 9 @ Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Oct 11 vs Washington 7:00 PM
Oct 13 vs Winnipeg 1:00 PM
Oct 16 vs Edmonton 7:00 PM
Oct 18 @ Ottawa 3:00 PM
Oct 21 vs San Jose 7:00 PM
Oct 23 vs Detroit 7:00 PM
Oct 25 @ Philadelphia 12:30 PM
Oct 28 @ Boston 7:15 PM
Oct 30 @ Carolina 7:00 PM
Oct 31 @ Washington 7:00 PM

NOVEMBER:
Nov 2 vs Columbus 5:00 PM
Nov 4 vs Boston 7:00 PM
Nov 7 vs Minnesota 7:00 PM
Nov 8 @ Rangers 7:00 PM
 Nov 10 @ New Jersey 7:00 PM
Nov 13 @ Vegas 10:00 PM
Nov 14 @ Utah 9:00 PM
Nov 16 @ Colorado 9:00 PM
Nov 18 @ Dallas 8:00 PM
Nov 20 @ Detroit 7:00 PM\
Nov 22 vs St. Louis 3:30 PM
Nov 23 vs Seattle 5:00 PM
Nov 26 vs Boston 7:00 PM
Nov 28 vs Philadelphia 4:00 PM
Nov 30 vs Washington 1:00 PM

DECEMBER:
Dec 2 vs Tampa Bay 7:00 PM
Dec 4 vs Colorado 7:00 PM
Dec 6 @ Tampa Bay 7:00 PM
Dec 7 @ Florida 5:00 PM
Dec 9 vs Vegas 7:00 PM
Dec 11 vs Anaheim 7:00 PM
Dec 13 vs Tampa Bay 3:30 PM
Dec 16 @ Detroit 7:00 PM
Dec 19 vs Vancouver 7:00 PM
Dec 20 @ Buffalo 5:00 PM
Dec 23 vs New Jersey 7:00 PM
Dec 27 vs Rangers 6:00 PM
Dec 28 @ Columbus 5:00 PM
Dec 30 @ Chicago 8:30 PM

JANUARY:
Jan 1 vs Utah 3:00 PM
Jan 3 vs Toronto 7:00 PM
Jan 6 vs New Jersey 7:00 PM
Jan 8 @ Nashville 8:00 PM
Jan 10 @ Minnesota 8:00 PM
Jan 13 @ Winnipeg 8:00 PM
Jan 15 @ Edmonton 9:00 PM
Jan 17 @ Calgary 3:00 PM
Jan 19 @ Vancouver 10:00 PM
Jan 21 @ Seattle 10:00 PM
Jan 24 vs Buffalo 1:00 PM
Jan 26 @ Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Jan 28 vs Rangers 7:30 PM
Jan 29 @ Rangers 7:00 PM
Jan 31 vs Nashville 7:00 PM

FEBRUARY:
Feb 2 @ Washington 7:00 PM
Feb 3 vs Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Feb 5 @ New Jersey 7:00 PM
Feb 26 @ Montreal 7:00 PM
Feb 28 @ Columbus 6:00 PM

MARCH:
Mar 1 vs Florida 4:00 PM
Mar 4 @ Anaheim 10:00 PM
Mar 5 @ Los Angeles 9:30 PM
Mar 7 @ San Jose 10:00 PM
Mar 10 @ St. Louis 7:30 PM
Mar 13 vs Los Angeles 7:00 PM
Mar 14 vs Calgary 7:00 PM
Mar 17 @ Toronto 7:00 PM
Mar 19 @ Ottawa 7:00 PM
Mar 21 @ Montreal 7:00 PM
Mar 22 vs Columbus 7:00 PM
Mar 24 vs Chicago 7:00 PM
Mar 26 vs Dallas 7:00 PM
Mar 28 vs Florida 1:00 PM
Mar 30 vs Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Mar 31 @ Buffalo 7:00 PM

APRIL:
Apr 3 vs Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Apr 4 @ Carolina 7:00 PM
Apr 9 vs Toronto 7:00 PM
Apr 11 vs Ottawa 1:00 PM
Apr 12 vs Montreal 6:00 PM
Apr 14 vs Carolina 7:00 PM

Big News In Tampa Bay

We have heard this act before. There's more good news surrounding the Tampa Bay Rays, and hopefully this time it will actually stick and happen. Reports have been coming in from a couple sources that the Stu Sternberg is selling the Rays for about $2 Billion to a group of Jacksonville investors lead by Patrick Zalupski. The sale is reportedly going to go through in September, but at this point, neither the investor Group, nor Sternberg, have made any public comments. It is also believed that the plan from the new ownership group would be to put the rays at a new stadium in Tampa, rather than keep them in St Petersburgh.

There's good and there's bad to this.

The good is, it finally gets Sternberg the hell out of the owners box. Yes, there has been a fair amount of success in Tampa since Stu took over as owner in 2005.n That includes two AL Pennants and four AL East division titles. But the owner seemingly refuses to re-invest any money back into the ball club. By that, we mean make upgrades to the ballpark. Or even get a new ballpark built in the area to keep the Rays in St Pete. If this does go through, it will hopefully allow money to get back into the team. It will allow the team to spend money on competing talent in the AL East. It will allow them to maintain a world class stadium in the area as well. Among other things.

Then, of course, there's the skeptic in me. The Rays have gotten our hopes up over the last year. With the new stadium deal that was set in place, but then was shot down. The roof of the Trop getting blown off (that wasn't on ownership that was Mother Nature). It seems like when the Rays have anything going good, or it looks like it might be good, something gets pulled out from under them. Everything that has been talked about since the announcement came down yesterday has been speculation. 

Here's hoping this will actually go through and the new owners actually take over.

Play Like An All Star

The Mid Summer Classic is almost upon us once again. On July 15th, the best of the best in the game of baseball will gather at Truist Park in Atlanta. League pride is on the line as the AL and NL will send their best out on the field for the 95th All Star Game.

The AL has won 11 of the last 12 games. They had a ten game win streak snapped back in 2023, but went right back to their winning ways last season. The AL has 48 wins and score 388 runs during the game, while the NL has won 44 times and score 380 runs.

Here's what the All Stars look like for this season.

National League:
Starters:
Catcher: Will Smith Dodgers (3rd)
1st Base: Freddie Freeman Dodgers (9th)
2nd Base: Ketel Marte Diamondbacks (3rd)
3rd Base: Manny Machado Padres (7th)
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor Mets (5th)
Outfielders: Ronald Acuña Jr. Braves (5th), Pete Crow-Armstrong Cubs (1st), Kyle Tucker Cubs (4th)
Designated Hitter Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (5th)

Reserves
Catcher: Hunter Goodman Rockies (1st)
1st Base: Pete Alonso Mets (5th), Matt Olson Braves (3rd)
2nd Base: Brendan Donovan Cardinals (1st)
3rd Base: Eugenio Suárez Diamondbacks (2nd)
Shortstop: Elly De La Cruz Reds (2nd)
Outfield: Corbin Carroll Diamondbacks (2nd), Kyle Stowers Marlins (1st), Fernando Tatís Jr. Padres (3rd), James Wood Nationals (1st)
Designated Hitter: Kyle Schwarber Phillies (3rd)

Pitchers:
Jason Adam Padres (1at), Matthew Boyd Cubs (1st), Edwin Díaz Mets (3rd), MacKenzie Gore Nationals (1st), Clayton Kershaw Dodgers (11th), Freddy Peralta Brewers (2nd), Robbie Ray Giants (2nd), Randy Rodríguez Giants (1st), Chris Sale Braves (9th), Paul Skenes Pirates (2nd), Logan Webb Giants (2nd), Zack Wheeler Phillies (3rd), Yoshinobu Yamamoto Dodgers (1st)

American League:
Starters:
Catcher: Cal Raleigh Mariners (1st)
1st Base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Blue Jays (5th)
2nd Base: Gleyber Torres Tigers (3rd)
3rd Base: José Ramírez Guardians (7th)
Shortstop: Jacob Wilson Athletics (1st)
Outfield: Javier Báez Tigers (3rd), Riley Greene Tigers (2nd), Aaron Judge Yankees (7th)
Designated Hitter: Ryan O'Hearn Orioles (1st)

Reserves:
Catcher: Alejandro Kirk Blue Jays (2nd)
1st Base: Jonathan Aranda Rays (1st)
2nd Base: Brandon Lowe Rays (2nd)
3rd Base: Alex Bregman Red Sox (3rd), Jazz Chisholm Jr. Yankees (2nd)
Shortstop: Jeremy Peña Astros (1st), Bobby Witt Jr. Royals (2nd)
Outfield: Byron Buxton Twins (2nd), Steven Kwan Guardians (2nd), Julio Rodríguez Mariners (3rd) 
Designated Hitter: Brent Rooker Athletics (2nd)

Pitchers:
Hunter Brown Astros (1st), Kris Bubic Royals (1st), Aroldis Chapman Red Sox (8th), Garrett Crochet Red Sox (2nd), Jacob deGrom Rangers (5th), Max Fried Yankees (3rd), Josh Hader Astros (6th), Yusei Kikuchi Angels (2nd), Andrés Muñoz Mariners (2nd), Tarik Skubal Tigers (2nd), Shane Smith White Sox (1st), Bryan Woo Mariners (1st)

So what do you think? Any snubs?